Vehicle Seat Backrest Element Eccentric Mounting Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle seats with additional backrest elements that can pivot independently of the main backrest often experience wobbling movements, leading to misalignment and requiring costly fitting arrangements, which are space-intensive and not always necessary.

Innovation Solution

The additional backrest element is mounted via connecting elements that replicate the wobbling movement of the backrest pivot axis, allowing it to pivot synchronously with the backrest without additional fitting arrangements, using eccentric and rotationally fixed connections to the seat substructure and backrest.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the backrest element is mounted on the seat substructure without additional fitting arrangements, then cost and space are reduced, but wobbling movement causes misalignment between the backrest and backrest element

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefitting arrangementsVSAvoidalignment between backrest and backrest element
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting element is designed to copy the wobbling movement of the backrest pivot axis. By replicating the exact trajectory of the backrest's wobbling motion, the connecting element ensures that the backrest element remains properly aligned with the backrest throughout the pivoting range, eliminating misalignment while avoiding complex fitting arrangements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting element acts as an intermediary between the seat substructure and the backrest element. It transfers and reproduces the wobbling movement from the backrest pivot axis to the backrest element, serving as a mediator that maintains alignment without requiring direct rigid mounting or complex fitting arrangements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate pivot bearings are provided on the seat substructure for the backrest and backrest element, then independent pivoting is enabled, but additional fitting arrangements are required which are expensive and space-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent pivoting capabilityVSAvoidfitting arrangements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting element serves multiple functions: it mounts the backrest element to the seat substructure, enables independent pivoting of the backrest element, and reproduces the wobbling movement to maintain alignment. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate fitting arrangements while preserving independent pivoting capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the mounting function with the motion reproduction function into a single connecting element. Instead of using separate fitting arrangements for mounting and separate mechanisms for enabling pivoting, the connecting element combines these functions, reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables the backrest element to pivot independently while maintaining alignment with the backrest, eliminating the need for costly fitting arrangements and ensuring smooth movement without additional space requirements.

Implementation Method 1

The additional backrest element is mounted at a first bearing point on the seat substructure and is mounted at a second bearing point on the backrest. At the first bearing point, a first connection element is provided for the mounting of the backrest element, which follows a wobbling movement of the backrest pivot axis during a pivoting movement of the backrest.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric mounting: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentEP3863886B1Vehicle seat with excentically mounted backrest element
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3863886B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3863886B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3863886B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The proposed solution relates to a vehicle seat, with - a seat substructure (S), on which a backrest (R) is pivotably mounted, and - a backrest element (D), which is pivotable together with the backrest (R) and which is pivotable relative to the backrest (R), wherein the backrest (R) is mounted pivotably on the seat substructure (S) via at least one fitting arrangement (DB1, DB2) in such a manner that a pivoting movement of the backrest (R) with respect to the seat substructure (S) takes place about a backrest pivot axis (A) carrying out a tumbling movement. The backrest element (D) is mounted at a first bearing point (DL1) on the seat substructure (S) and/or at a second bearing point (DL2) on the backrest (R). For the mounting of the backrest element (D), at least one connecting element (2a, 2b) undertaking the tumbling movement during a pivoting movement of the backrest is provided on at least one of the first and second bearing points (DL1, DL2).